New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 11 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 12 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 13 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 15 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 16 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 18 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 19 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 20 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 21 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 22 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 23 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

Image 24 of 25

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

New Milford High School and Newtown High School compete in the Class LL state semifinals at Waterbury Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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Buccino leads Newtown girls soccer into Class LL championship game

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WATERBURY -- Midway through the first half of Saturday's All-SWC edition of the Class LL girls soccer semifinals, Newtown coach Marc Kenney managed the quickest of in-game high-fives with senior midfielder Brittany Tolla, whose focus never shifted off the field.

For the senior-laden Nighthawks, this is a journey, Kenney said. And this leg had gotten off on the right foot thanks to Tolla, who made two relentless runs into New Milford's 18-yard box inside of the first three minutes, the second of which yielded Melissa Buccino's game-winner.

Buccino, another senior, trailed Tolla all the way and lunged at the far post just in time to boot home Tolla's close-range feed. Buccino would add a second score in the 30th minute, on a pin-balling dish from Tressa Scott, to finish off a 2-0 triumph over the 26th-seeded Green Wave at Municipal Stadium.

The journey has reached the ultimate stage. The Nighthawks will play for a state championship against Glastonbury, a 1-0 winner over Trumbull in the other semifinal, at a place and time to be announced.

"The fact that we're here is just a culmination of hard work and coming together," said Buccino, who keyed another fast start on offense for the Nighthawks. "No secret (to the quick starts). We're just working really hard."

Of Tolla's effort in igniting things, Kenney said: "(Brittany) tore her ACL twice. She did something I couldn't do, working back from it. (This moment) is really for her, and all the other players in our program who have given so much for Newtown High School."

Another senior Kenney singled out for her sacrifice was new sweeper Bridget Power, whose postseason position change may have prevented an early exit.

"If we don't have her back there, we lose three games ago," Kenney said. "We're getting service out of the back that's dynamic. She's fast and she's athletic and she wins balls in the air."

Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Yakush made four saves to preserve the shutout. Her counterpart, Alison Rettenmeyer, finished with nine saves.

The Green Wave had scored substantial upsets the three prior rounds, including a 1-0 quarterfinal win on penalty kicks against second-seeded Middletown, but the Nighthawks' first goal staggered them.

"I was wishing to get anybody else in the semifinal," said first-year coach Greg LaCava. "We hadn't trailed in about five games, so I think (the early goal) put us back on our heels a little bit. We never really got moving forward after that. I'm very proud of my team. They were .500 heading into state playoffs and they really battled to get here."